Attachment for pool tables



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,448

J. C. F. HORSTMANN ATTACHMENT FOR POOL TABLES Filed Sept. 24, 1927 I/fi III/IIIIIIIII/IIIIIIII/IIIIIII 13 INVENTOR.

(b7172 C Eff 0715577107271 A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 26,1929.

UNITED STATES PATENTS'OFIFICE. i

JOHN C. F. HORSTMANN, OF BROOKLYN, YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR POOL TABLES.

Application filed September 24, 1927. Serial No. 221,720.

This invention relatesto attachments for game tables, particularly applicable to pool tables, of that type wherein runways or alleys are provided beneath the table to receive and assemble the balls as they are eliminated from play by passing into the pockets of the table. v I

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for use in connection with a table of this character whereby the balls as.

erly positioned with respect to the runway so no attention after once properly applied,

' that danger of improper positioning of the frame is obviated. Still further objects reside in provision of the means of the character stated which is of simple construction and which may be readily applied to any pool table of that type wherein runways are employed; which may be installed atsmall expense and which requires which operates in such manner asto prevent balls dropping from'the holder to the floor, which is easily and quickly manipulated, and which constitutes a proper and safe holder for the balls when the table is not in use.

The invention herein disclosed has particularly to do with the ball supporting rack disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 221,721, filed September 24, 1927, the at tachment in the present invention beingdesigned for the accommodation of the ball supporting rack disclosed in said co-pending application.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the inventlon consists 1n the novel construction, combinatlon and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully.

hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional form of pool table of that type wherein ball runwaysare provided, and showing as applied thereto an improved attachment embodying my invention, 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the triangle holder removed fromthe table,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the holder showing the manner, in which the same is applied to the table, and g .Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 5 indicates generally a conventional form of pool table of that type wherein runways 6 are arranged under the same and communicate respectively with the pockets 7 properly located in the corners and at the sides of the table. The runways. 6 all communicate at their inner ends with a common:

. or main runway orv alley 8 which extends centrally and longitudinally beneath the table and which communicates at its rear end with a triangle holder or compartment indicated at 9. As shown, the runway ,8 has its end disposed above the compartment or holder 9 so that balls moving rearwardly in said runway will drop into the compartment. The compartment or holder 9 is preferably attached to the table in such manner that a portion thereof projects out beyond an edge of the table in order that access may readily be had to the holder.

The holderhas arranged therein guides 10, constituting walls or partltions rising from the bottom of the holder and extending from opposite side walls near the rear of the holder toward each other to meet adjacent to the" delivery end of the runway 8. This arrangement constitutes a V-shaped guide with the apex thereofdisposed beneath the discharge end of the runway. The V-shaped guide thus formed is of such size and shape as to accommodate the usual racking frame 11 employed in connection with pool games, with an apex of such frame disposed immediately beneath the discharge end of the alley or runway 8.-

The triangle or frame ll 'is of standard size,

and in the present instance is equipped with a removable bottom 12 upon which the balls normally rest. This bottom slides within the triangle and has a rearwardly projecting element 13 constituting a finger grip and also an abutment member for holding the triangle properly positioned within the compartment as Well as for holding the bottom within the triangle. This element projects beyond the rear end of the triangle a distance substantially equal to the distance between the rear side of the triangle and the door 14: of the compartment when the triangleis properly positioned in engagement with the V-guide within the holder. The door 14 is hinged at its bottom as at 15 to the rear end of the compartment, and is held in closed position by spring strap members 16 having ends projecting rearwardly from the sides of the holder to be engaged by projections such as pins 17 on the upper edge of the door. The resiliency of the snap spring 16 is sufficient to hold the door securely closed under normal. con ditions, but forcible rearward swinging of the door 14, as when manually performed, will be sufficient to disengage the snap springs from the studs 17.

In order that the balls as delivered from the runway 8 will properly position or rack themselves within the triangle 11, the compartment or holder 9 is secured to the table so as to slant downwardly at its rear or outer end. This may be accomplished by inclining the upper edges of the side walls of the holder as shown, so that when screws or bolts 18 passing through the ends'of retaining straps 19 secured to the holder sides are driven home, the inclined upper edges of the said sides engaging the horizontal lower edge of the table 5 will cause the holder to assume a proper rearward inclination.

In operation, the triangle 11 is applied to the compartment with its bottom 12 properly inserted, and upon closing the door 14. the triangle is forced forwardly until the sides thereof snugly engage the upstanding partitions 10, whereupon the apex of the triangle is positioned directly beneath the discharge end of the runway 8. The door or gate 1 1 when closed holds the triangle thus posi- .tioned, with its sliding bottom 12 at the limit I pockets 7 and down their respective runways to the main alley or runway 8, they gravitate to the triangle held within the compartment. By reason of the slight inclination of the compartment, the balls roll rearwardly therein and position themselves in engagement first with the rear side of the triangle and then against each otheruntil the triangle is filled. To spot the balls, it is but necessary to open the door 1 1 and remove the triangle. This is done by engaging the fingers beneath the element 13 and lifting the triangle clear of the holeer. The triangle is then positioned upon the table wi h the ball at the apes: thereof over the spot on the table. The bottom 12 is then slid rearwardly until disengaged from the triangle, whereupon all the balls therein will drop to the table surface in proper racked position. The triangle is than lifted from the balls, the bottom reinserted therein, and the triangle repositioned in the compartment or holder and the door 1 1 swung to closed position.

It is apparent that a'pool table equipped with a racking frame constructed in accordance with the foregoing may be operated at a great saving of time and with little inconvenience to an attendant. tato to their proper positions within the triangle after leaving the runway. 8, it is apparent that no manual adjustment of the balls is necessary before repositioning them upon the table. A triangle so constructed and operated eliminates the necessity of rolling or "moving the triangle upon the table in properly spotting the balls, as withdrawal of the sliding bottom 12 immediately drops the balls upon the table in proper position, provided the triangle has been properly placed upon the table.

While the foregoing is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiments, it is nevertheless to be understood that variations in the construction and assemblage of parts may be liberally resorted to if desired within the limitations of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a table having a compartment and a ball runway leading thereto; a guide in said compartment having an apex disposed beneath said runway, a frame for application to said compartment, a rearwardly projecting element on said frame, and a door at the rear of said compartment adapted when closed to engage said element and hold said frame firmly against said guide.

2. In combination with a table having a compartment and a ball runway leading thereto; of a frame for insertion in said compartment, a rearwardly movablebottom in said frame, an element on said bottom projecting rearwardly from said frame, and a door on said compartment adapted when closed to engage'said element and force and hold the same in forward position and to position a part of said frame beneath said runway. l

3. In combination with a pool table, of a triangle holder arranged to receive balls from the runway, a triangle for application to said holder, a slide bottom carried by said triangle, and a door on said holder adapted to engage a portion of said slide bottom to force the same into position in the triangle and to force the triangle properly within the holder.

4. In combination with a pool table, of a holder on said table to receive balls from the runway, guide walls in said holder having slots therein, a triangle for application to said holder and adapted to engage said walls, a slide bottom in said triangle portions of. which are adapted to-enter said slots, and a door on said holder to force the slide bottom As the balls graviinto position Within the triangle and to force the triangle against said Walls.

5. In combination with a pool table, a triangle holder rigidly "secured beneath said table in position to receive balls therefrom, said holder having a bottom inclining downwardly away from said table, a triangle for insertion in said holder and to rest on 'said bottom, and a door hinged to said holder and adapted When closed to force said triangle to ball receiving position.

y In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN C. HORSTMANN. 

